Evelin Arenas

The meeting commenced after a closed session which addressed student discipline, personnel matters including employment and compensation negotiations, and review of closed session minutes. Key discussions in the open session included a follow-up on a conflict resolution session held with a representative from the Illinois Association of School Boards aimed at promoting better board working relationships. The Student Board Member reports featured an update on the reintroduction of an in-school tutoring program set to begin on March 3rd, detailing requirements for participation such as punctuality and positive attitude, and addressing volunteer hour documentation and fee reduction incentives. Another student report provided a preliminary analysis of the student well-being survey, highlighting student concerns regarding teacher support (e.g., lack of understanding, threatening failure), educational quality and rigor, resource allocation (citing a recent Wi-Fi outage), and school environment issues such as negative behavior and perceived inequality in security guard interactions. Students also reported on academic pressure, heavy workload, duplicate coursework, and delayed grading feedback. The board acknowledged the need to capture and relay this survey data to administration and teaching staff for planning purposes. Presentations were given for a Black History Month celebration recognizing 100 years of commemorations, featuring student performances and alumni awards, and an update on Clark Elementary School being authorized as an International Baccalaureate (IB) school.

The meeting commenced after a closed session held at 6 PM to discuss matters exempt from the Illinois Open Meetings Act, including personnel, real estate, negotiations, and legal matters. During the open session, board members participated in the pledge of allegiance. The President reported on upcoming events, including a conflict resolution session on February 18th and the Lake Division meeting of the Illinois Association of School Boards on April 15th. A letter was read regarding the annual Mikva Challenge issues to action showcase scheduled for April 24, 2026. Student board members presented updates, covering the introduction of two surveys: one for an in-school student tutoring program (Student-to-Student Learning) designed for NHS members to earn volunteer hours, and another (Student Serve Follow-up Lunch Survey) aimed at gathering student feedback to improve lunch nutrition and fulfillment. Additionally, a student board member presented an idea for school expansion or complete renovation to create a more modern learning environment. The meeting featured special recognition and presentations for two administrators: Mr. Nelson Campos, recognized as the IPA Lake Region Middle School Principal of the Year and the State of Illinois Middle School Principal of the Year, and Miss Shantaa Meyers, who received the 2025-2026 Reaching Out and Building Bridges Award for fostering strong connections between schools, families, and the community.

The meeting commenced with a roll call confirming a quorum, followed by the pledge of allegiance. The body first held a closed session starting at 6:00 p.m. to discuss personnel matters (appointment, employment, compensation, performance, and dismissals), negotiations (collective), and legal matters (actual or threatened litigation, specific personnel compensation). Upon reconvening to open session at 7:02 p.m., the board addressed a procedural discussion regarding the placement of public comment, agreeing to move it to after the return from closed session going forward to accommodate public attendees more efficiently. During the public comment period, representatives and students from Youth Guidance, including members of the B.A.M. program, spoke about the positive impact of the program on their personal growth and maturation.

The meeting began with roll call establishing a quorum, despite Board Member Hannah participating remotely due to health reasons, which was approved by roll call vote. The pledge of allegiance was recited. Public comment included a citizen addressing non-functional parking lot lights at the new building, noted as a public safety concern. Key discussions involved approving personnel actions including appointments, retirements, and resignations/terminations listed on several schedules. A moment of silence was observed for a recently passed staff member. Furthermore, the board considered the rescission of a resignation for Angel Figueroa, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources and Employee Benefits, with the recommendation to continue his employment retroactively to January 1, 2026.

The workshop meeting focused on reviewing board questions regarding employment matters, specifically concentrating on the process for managing employee resignations, including resignation in lieu of termination. Key discussion points included the general rules governing dismissals and resignations, distinguishing between at-will employment and contractual employment, and outlining the roles of principals, the superintendent, and the board in employee separations. The presentation detailed mandatory dismissal rules under the school code pertaining to licensure, criminal convictions, and child abuse findings, as well as reporting requirements for misconduct to the state board of education. Specific attention was given to teacher dismissals based on competency, immorality, or egregious misconduct, and the rules governing teacher resignations during the school term versus summer session. Additionally, the authority to dismiss Educational Support Personnel (ESP) and the guidelines for immediate dismissal due to failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect were reviewed. Finally, egregious misconduct, such as theft over $300, material misrepresentations in employment qualifications, and sexual misconduct, was defined according to board policy.